Parachute



April 9, l P. J. swoFFoRD A 2.196.947

PARACHUTE Filed Sept. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l APT 9, l940- P. J.swoFFoRD 2,196,947

y PARAGHUTE y Filed sept. s, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1940UNITED lSTATES PATENT; oi-FICE Pete/r Svlvflftlr'llllnzton, Tex.

5A Claims.

This invention relates to parachutes, and has for one of its objects theproduction of a simple and eilicient means for facilitating thestabilizing 'of the parachute and preventing the same from oscillatingand drifting to a great extent.

A further object of this invention is' the production of a simple andefllcient parachute whereby the circumference of the canopy may 4bereduced to a minimum and at the same time efficiently support. the bodyof the person using the chute.

A still further o ject of this invention is the production of\a simpleand eillcient air controlled valve means carried by the outer upper endof the body of the chute, the valve means being chute;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational/view showing the aircontrolled exit valves in an open position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through Y the body of the chutetaken on line 4-4 of Flgure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the body of the chuteand showing a portion of the canopy; J

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5,the air controlled valves being shown in a closed position;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure 6, the valvesbeing shown in an open position.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I Il designates thecanopy which is of the umbrella type, the outer edges of which aresecured by suitable shroud lines II to the harness I2. A body portion I3is provided and arranged centrally of the canopy I0, the body portion I3being formed lof fabric having circumferential reinforcing bands I4which pass around the tubular-like body I3. The body I3 is open at itslower end I5, as shown'in Figure 5, and this body I3 preferably extendsabout one-thirdabove the` canopy I0,- and about two-thirds of its lengthFigure l isa side elevational view of the paracords I1 which aresecured'to the inner'face of 10' the body I3 as at I8, at a pointapproximately the junction of the canopy I0 with the body I3, as shownin Figure 5.

The body I3 is provided with an upper rounded nose portion I9 having anair outlet opening 20 15 -of reduced size at its upper extremity, theedges of which opening are reinforced by means of a suitable vband 2|.The rounded nose portion providedrwith a plurality of longitudinallyextending slots 22 which are cut on the bias and 20 which yarereinforced along their longitudinal edges by means of vbands 23 whichare stitched ysecurely in the manner as shown in Figures 6 and f 7 toreinforce the edges of the slots 22. These slots 22 preferably extendthroughout the entire g5 length of the rounded portion of the nose I3,that is, from a point approximately the parallel side walls ofthe bodyI3 to the outer open end 20.

It should be understood that the slots 22 constitute expansion ports forletting out shock air 3g while the parachute is irst opening.

A pilot chute 24 is connected to the upper end of the rounded nose I9through the medium of the cords 25, vwhich cords are secured around theedge of the opening 20, and to the cord 2| to 55 provide a secureanchoring means.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Asthe chute is released, the canopy I0 will expand in the conventionalmanner, and the cylindrical or tubular body I3 will expand to its 40normal shape and air will pass into the interior of the body I3 throughthe intake ports'or openings I6 in the direction of the arrows, as wellas up through the bottom or open end I5 of the body I3. The air willthen pass up into the re- 45 stricted rounded nose I9 and the confinedpressure of the air will cause the slots 22 to be spread apart as shownin Figure 7, allowing additional air escape areas to relieve the strainon the rounded nose I9, and at the same time permit the parachute togradually adjust itself to air lcurrents and graduallydescend the personsupported by the chute without injury to him. These port openings orslots 22 on the top of the body I3 in the rounded nose VI9 will split upthe Il air confined within the body I8, causing an even suction whichwill stabilize the chute. The lower air inlet openings IB which are justbelow the canopy i0, allow the air to pass up through these .openingsinto the upper end of the body it and out through the slots or ports 22as well as through the restricted outer end 2B. The particularconstruction provided not only constitutes a stabilizer but alsoprovides an efficient means for admitting the air into the body andproviding an exit for the air. This construction prevents oscillatingand drifting to a great extent and the particular structure as statedabove will permit the circumference of the chute to be reduced to aminimum. The body cords or lines ii and il firmly hold the chute down inthe center and there has been found by experience that a twenty footchute with the particular body structure illustrated has as much liftingresistance as a conventional twenty-four foot standard chute.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanicalconstruction and arrangement of parts may be employed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

s., Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubularbody portion extending centrally of the canopy and projecting throughthe canopy, the body portion extending approximately one-third above andtwo-thirds below the canopy, `said body portion having a lower openend,I means connecting the canopy and body portion to a harness, andexpansible -air controlled valves carried by the upper end of said bodyfor releasing excess air pressure from the uppery end of the body.

2. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubularbody portion extending centrally oi' the canopy and projecting throughthe canopy, the body portion extending approximately one-third above andtwo-thirds below the canopy, said body portion having a lower open end,means connecting the canopyand body portion to a harness, expansible aircontrolled valves carried by the upper end of said body for releasingexcess air pressure from the upper end of the body, said body havinglongitudinally extending air inlet openings arranged around thelcircumference thereof for admitting air from the outside t0 the insideof the body.

3.l A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubularbody portion extending centrally ofthe canopyand vertically thereof andprojecting through the canopy, the body portion extending approximatelyone-third above and two-thirdsv below the canopy, and a harness carriedby theparachute.

4. A parachute of the class described comprising a` canopy,.a tubularbody portion extending centrally oi the canopy and having a portionthereof projecting for a material distance above the canopy and agreater portion thereof extending for a material Adistance below thecanopy;

whereby the tubular body portion will constitute a stabilizing means forthe canopy, and a harness carried by and suspended from the parachute.

5. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy, a tubularbody portion extending centrally of the canopy and projecting throughthe canopy, the body portion extendingapproximately one-third above andtwo-thirds below the canopy, said body portion having a lower open end,means connecting the canopy and body portion to a harness, 4and meansfor automatically releasing excss air pressure from the upper4 end ofthe body.

PETER J. SWOFFORD

